Recognizing National Bullying Prevention Month, the U.S. Center for SafeSport released a new educational checklist, providing parents and coaches with actionable strategies to identify and prevent bullying in youth athletics.
Titled “Bullying Prevention Checklist: Six Strategies for Preventing Bullying in Sports,” the guide aims to equip guardians and youth mentors with the tools needed to maintain supportive, emotionally secure spaces for young competitors.
SafeSport CEO and Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley highlighted the importance of addressing the issue proactively and continuously across all athletic disciplines.
“While we should keep our sights on preventing bullying in sport year-round, we can take this moment to spotlight our collective responsibility to foster safe and healthy environments for young athletes in every arena,” Mosley said via a press release.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport operates as the nation’s sole independent organization charged with preventing and addressing emotional, physical, and sexual abuse across Olympic and Paralympic sport. Originally formed in response to high-profile cases of misconduct involving minor athletes in the mid-2010s, SafeSport opened its doors in March 2017.
The initiative places heavy emphasis on intervening before interpersonal conflicts develop into destructive patterns. SafeSport Vice President for Education and Research Monica Rivera noted that adults must pay closer attention to early warning signs and address underlying issues in young competitors.
“To truly prevent bullying, we need to recognize when a young person may be struggling and respond to those needs before it shows up as harmful behavior,” Rivera said in a statement. “Early intervention, accountability, and support can help interrupt cycles of harm and create safer, more inclusive environments for all athletes. Parents and coaches play a crucial role.”
To support broader education, SafeSport is offering downloadable resources and media materials that address the symptoms of bullying, constructive methods for discussing the topic with children, and steps for parents who suspect their child may be exhibiting bullying behaviors.
Additional resources released through SafeSport’s “Prevent Bullying in Sport” campaign include the guide “Could my kid be the bully? Four Steps to Changing the Cultural Narrative Around Bullying” and a specialized Bullying Prevention Handbook for Coaches of Minor Athletes.
Congress subsequently codified the organization’s oversight authority under the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, later reinforcing its investigative independence and funding requirements under the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020.
Today, the organization enforces policies such as the SafeSport Code and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP), audits National Governing Bodies, and administers disciplinary sanctions, including temporary and lifetime bans.
Athletes, families, and participants within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement who have experienced or suspect abuse or misconduct can file a confidential report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport by calling 833-587-7233.
Immediate crisis intervention is also accessible via RAINN’s 24/7 hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). At the same time, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by dialing 988.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
